Keeping Wicks Straight

Why keep the wick centered and straight? Most people have owned at last one candle that had left wax built up on one side of the container as it burned. As it continues to burn two things can happen. One is that the built up wax can start to melt and raise the wax level below the wick till the wick snuffs out, or altogether disappears. The other is that the off-centered flame heats up the glass next to it, and cracks it making a fire hazard. A centered wick eliminates both problems.

Whether you are an experienced candle maker or new to the problem of keeping a wick straight, you've come to the right place. Here are the common methods being used:

1. The pre-pour wick anchor method - Pour a small bit of wax into the container, and set the pre-tabbed wick centered in the bottom. Let the wax harden. Pour the candle and use a clip to hold the wick taut and centered while it cures. Remove clip and top off. Problems: Time consuming; letting that wax harden. The taut wick is still exposed to the shrinking wax and gets pushed around a bit by it. The wick is not likely to be kept straight.
   
   
2. The glued down wick tab method - Glue the wick tab to the bottom inside of the container. Pour the candle and use a clip to hold the wick taut and centered while it cures. Remove clip and top off. Problems: Some people do not want glue in their candles. Time consuming doing that glue step. . The taut wick is still exposed to the shrinking wax and gets pushed around a bit by it. The wick is not likely to be kept straight.
   
   
3. In infamous pop-sickle stick method - Pour the candle, set the wick and use a pop-sickle stick to hold the top of the wick centered in the candle. Remove the stick, and cap off. The most common method of installing a wick, but not keeping it straight and centered. Problems: Probably the cheapest way to go, but you get what you pay for. The wick is pushed all over by the shrinking wax. Centering the wick during topping off disguises a candle that will fail less than half way through its life.
   
   
4. The machine made method - Place a pre-made color and odorless pillar type machine made candle in the container, with a perfectly centered wick already installed by the machine. Pour colored scented wax around it inside the container. Problems: Costly machinery to produce the pillar. Scent and color not evenly distributed in the container.
   
   
5. The Wick Stick - Pour the Candle. Slide the pre-tabbed wick into the Wick Stick. Place into the container. Remove before topping candle. Be confident your wick is dead center Problems: None. Advantages: The Wick Stick is easily installed and removed, and can be used thousands of times over with no cleaning. You will have safe clean burning candles.